Sulphur-in-Oil Analyser that Meets Tier III ULSG Testing Requirements

HORIBA Scientific (USA), the global leader in Sulphur-in-Oil Analysers, provides a small, self-contained benchtop analyser that meets testing requirements for US EPA’s Tier III Ruling for ULSG. The Ruling reduces allowed sulphur concentrations to ultra-low levels in gasoline. It also enacted use of a PBMS (Performance Based Measurement System) approach to allow reporting laboratories new flexibility regarding sulphur test methods they may use.

The goal of US EPA Tier 3, published in April 2014, is to control air pollution from motor vehicles by making the emission standards from sulphur in gasoline more stringent. It reduces allowable sulphur in gasoline from an average of 30 mg/kg to an average of 10 mg/kg beginning in 2017. Referred to as ULSG (Ultra Low Sulphur in Gasoline), refiners, importers and biofuel blenders of gasoline will all be required to perform sulfur analysis at these levels. Once fully implemented, the Tier 3 Ruling will require individual laboratories to demonstrate adequate measurement quality. California, Europe and Japan currently have gasoline specifications similar to Tier 3. 

Use of a consensus group (e.g. ASTM) standardised test method (e.g. ASTM D7220) with mandatory quality control practices will validate PBMS adequate measurement quality. ASTM D7220-12 is a standard test method for ULSG using monochromatic Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) Spectrometry. It has a sulphur determination range of 3-942 mg/kg sulphur with a Pooled Limit of Quantification (PLOQ) of 3 mg/kg sulphur, well below the Tier 3 average allowable limit of 10 mg/kg. Its expansive analysis range for sulphur concentration in fuel is applicable to a variety of fuel types: gasoline, oxygen enriched gasoline (RFG), diesel, diesel/biodiesel blends containing up to 50% by volume biodiesel, kerosene, jet fuel, jet fuel/biodiesel blends containing up to 5% by volume biodiesel, and #2 home heating oil.

"HORIBA’s MESA-7220 meets ASTM D7220-12 which in turn meets Tier III ULSG PBMS requirements,” said Mr. Allen Bickel, SLFA Analyzer Products Sales Manager for the Americas. “In fact the MESA-7220 is compliant with all ASTM Fuel Specifications: D-339, 975, 2880, 3699, 4294, 4814 and 7220-06.”

Mr. Bickel also pointed out, “Not only is the MESA-7220 capable of measuring both low level sulphur and higher levels sulphur as per accepted methods, it also has the ability to analyse chlorine which combined with sulphur analysis covers multiple crude and lubricating oil applications. It’s a clear choice for budget conscious labs."